Where those associated with Western films from around the world are laid to rest.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

RIP Mieczysław Kalenik

Polish actor Mieczysław
Kalenik HAS died, played Zbyszka from Bogdaniec

FAKT24.PL

6/17/2017

Mieczysław
Kalenik has died, an actor known for his role as Zbyszko from Bogdaniec in
"The Knights" by Alexander Ford. Information
about the actor's death was given by his daughter Magdalena Kalenik. The artist died,
June 16 in Międzyrzec Podlaski. He
was 84 years old.

Mieczysław
Kalenik was born on January 1 1933 in Międzyrzec Podlaski. The
actor made his debut in 1957 in the musical "Kiss Me, Kasia" by Jerzy
Rakowiecki according to Shakespeare's "Taming the Shrew". During
his studies he also played several episodic roles, including: In
films: "Generation", "Captain Martens's Treasure",
"Hours of Hope", "Warsaw Siren". But
he gained real fame in 1960 when he played one of his most important roles -
Zbyszko from Bogdaniec in "The Teutonic Knights" by Alexander Ford.

When
Alexander Ford prepared the "Teutonic Knights", many young actors
dreamed of Zbyszek's role in Bogdaniec. I
had to give up my dream because I read that Bogusz Bilewski was supposed to play
it. However, fate decided
otherwise. When
I went to the SPATiF Club, I saw three men from the film crew. One
of them, the production manager, having learned that I was an actor, invited me
to a short conversation with Ford. This
one, watching me carefully, asked if I would like to play "Teutonic
Knights" - he recalled Kalenik years later.

The actor also played, among
others. "First
Day of Freedom", "Life Again", "Everything for Sale",
"Kazimierz Wielki" and - in the late 90s - Stolnik in "Pan
Tadeusz".

Six
years ago, in an interview with Krzysztof Lubczyński, the actor admitted that
he had fulfilled himself as an artist - although he had been told for a long
time that he could only play the role of Zbyszko from Bogdaniec. -
After this role (...) Alexander Ford gave me a role in the film "The First
Day of Freedom" by Leon Kruczkowski, where I played Otton, the rapist, and
it was a completely different role from Zbyszko. I really like this role. So
I was acting as an actor, but never dreamed of a role, the proverbial Hamlet. In
the aftermath of the "Teutonic Knights," Ludwik Sempolinski told me:
"If it was before the war, no one would let you go, you would have
everything," Kalenik said.

Mieczysław
Kalenik died on Friday in his native Międzyrzec Podlaski. He was 84 years old.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.